Following their formal oath-taking ceremony, the newly elected SAMAHAN Central Board (SCB) officers for the Academic Year 2025-2026 officially begin their term.
Led by newly elected President Hannah Aquino, the board, largely dominated by members of Pinag-isang Lakas ng mga Progresibong Atenista (PIGLASAPAT), steps into office after securing all four core positions in the recently concluded elections.
In an interview with Atenews, Aquino stated the new administration seeks to reestablish SAMAHAN’s presence as an accessible, responsive, and student-centered body.
“Presence. That’s what I hope to leave behind. A SAMAHAN that is felt in every corner of the university — not because of banners or slogans, but because students feel seen, supported, and significant,” Aquino said.
As the new SCB begins its term, the new administration sets its sights on grounding governance in advocacy and engagement as they aim to build on existing initiatives while expanding programs rooted in consultation and campus-wide collaboration.
As part of this commitment, the SCB plans to strengthen the Department of Campaigns and Advocacies (DCA) and its AdvocaSIX pillars: Good Governance, SOGIESC Rights, Quality Education, Youth Empowerment, Climate Action, and Holistic Health.
Aquino also emphasized the importance of reasserting SAMAHAN’s role in national discourse and social advocacy, especially in light of persistent issues such as disinformation, political uncertainty, and the deterioration of education in the country.
“Now more than ever, SAMAHAN must lead with courage grounded in conviction, not controversy… by taking these advocacies beyond campaigns and into concrete action, rooted in community engagement and real dialogue.”
The newly inducted officers also include Judge Hinojales, Philipina Gutierrez, and Mickyla Almadin, who were elected as SAMAHAN Vice President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer, respectively—marking the party’s return to dominance after its ten-year winning streak was interrupted in 2024.
Cluster reps reflect mix student support
PIGLASAPAT also holds a majority of cluster representatives seats, winning three out of nine positions: Cyril Lou Villareal for Business and Management (B&M), Filfred Kaizzer Calma for Accountancy (ACC), and Francis De Barros for the School of Education (SOE).
The opposition party BAHAGHARI won two cluster seats, represented by Carl Rey Roque for Computer Studies (CS) and Kristel Eden Magno for the School of Nursing (SON).
Another opposition party, AGILAS, secured the Social Sciences (SS) cluster with candidate Steven Josh Gamutan, who triumphed in a three-way race against a PIGLASAPAT contender and an independent candidate.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Matthew Date Payumo was elected as the Humanities and Letters (HUMLET) cluster representative.
The newly constituted SCB assumes office with a voter turnout of 66.03%, as reported by Ateneo de Davao University Commission on Elections (AdDU COMELEC).
The oath-taking ceremony happened last May 21 and was livestreamed via Facebook Live.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published last May 22.